• Description of Program
• Admission
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The IU Sport Marketing and Management Program, which began in 1985, is recognized as one of the top programs of its kind in the United States. Graduates of the program can be found in nearly all segments of the sport industry and are located around the world. International students as well as students from across the country seek to gain admission to this competitive program. The major uses an interdisciplinary approach that includes foundation courses in both sport and business. In addition to completing a broad core of professional sport courses (in law, marketing, communication, management, psychology, and finance), students complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of course work from the Kelley School of Business (and with additional coursework may complete a business minor and/or the Business Foundations Certificate). Students gain strong preparation and skills in marketing, media relations, event planning/management, public relations, computers, and business organizational structures.

Admission

Apply online for undergraduate admission to Indiana University at http://admissions.indiana.edu/.

A newly admitted freshman or transfer student, beginning in the fall 2020 semester, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology degree with a major in sport marketing and management, will receive an offer of direct freshman admission to the this program if he or she meets both of the following criteria:

1. Entrance Test Scores: The applicant must have earned one of the following minimum standardized test scores:
   • a combined critical reading and math score on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) of 1280. --or--
   • a composite score on the ACT (American College Test) of 27.
2. Academic Performance: The applicant must either:
   • possess a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5. --or--
   • rank in the top 12 percent of his or her high school graduating class.

Before entering the School of Public Health - Bloomington as a sport marketing and management major, all other students begin studies in the University Division, and then subsequently certify into this program as soon as they satisfy the following three admission criteria:

Students in the University Division must also declare their intention to major in sport marketing and management to the University Division Records Office. If a student earns less than 2.0 semester GPA for the term before entering the School of Public Health-Bloomington, the student may be admitted on academic probation as long as the student has completed 30 credits, including SPH-M 211 with a minimum grade of C-, and has at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

International applicants for admission to a second undergraduate degree program in the School of Public Health - Bloomington, whose primary language is not English, must satisfy one of the following criteria before being considered for admission directly into one the School's degree programs:

• submission of a minimum score on the Test Of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL), of 550 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 on the Internet-based test.
• submission of a minimum score of 7 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• proof of completing at least three full years of secondary school in a predominantly English speaking country.

For students from countries where the TOEFL and the IELTS are not available, other evidence of English proficiency may be considered.

All entering international students whose primary language is not English will be required to take a special examination in English with IU prior to registering. Prepared by IU and designed to test a student’s ability to use English in an academic setting, the exam consists of three parts: an essay on a general topic, a listening comprehension exercise, and a grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension section. There is little that one can do to prepare for this exam other than to continue using written and spoken English at every opportunity. Appropriate remedial English courses may be prescribed on the basis of the results of this test.

International students whose primary language is not English must agree to take any English language courses prescribed from the results of this examination. Fees for special part-time English courses are the same as for other courses; however, credits earned do not meet degree requirements. If the results of the proficiency examination indicate that full-time work in English is required, the student will be assigned to the Intensive English Program (IEP).  

Students enrolled in IEP do not take academic courses until they achieve adequate English proficiency. If a student has serious doubts about English ability and is not financially prepared to undertake the additional time and expense of an intensive English program here, the student should consider completing English study in the student’s home country. In addition, the student may consider delaying admission to a future session.

Degree Requirements

The four-year sport marketing and management program leads to the degree, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, with course work taken in conjunction with the Kelly School of Business. Admission to the program is limited. Graduation requirements include:

• completion of general education requirements.
• completion of sport marketing and management major courses with a minimum grade of C- required in each course.
• a minimum of 120 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses used to complete the portions of this degree entitled: sport marketing and management core, and sport marketing and management electives.
• No Pass/Fail except for free electives.

General Education (20 – 39 credits)

All undergraduate students must complete the IU Bloomington campus-wide general education common ground requirements. Such students must visit the 2019-2020 General Education Bulletin to view these requirements.

Major (78 credits with a minimum grade of C- in each course)

Sport Marketing and Management Core (42 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-C 213 Introduction to Sport Communication (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 150 Introduction to Kinesiology & Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 211 Introduction to Sport Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 318 Management of the Sport Enterprise (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 333 Sport in America: Historical Perspective (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 382 Sport in American Society (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 411 Legal Issues in Sport Settings (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 415 Sport Promotions and Public Relations (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 418 Sport Marketing (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 423# Financial Principles in Sport (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 425 Sport Governance in the Global Community (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 426 Sales Management in Sport (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 428# Strategic Management in the Sport Industry (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 495 Practicum in Sport Studies (3 cr.) (2.3 cumulative GPA required) or SPH-M 497 Internship in Sport Management (3 cr.) (2.5 cumulative GPA required)

#M423 and M428 are restricted to SMM majors and minor and Seniors

Sport Marketing and Management Electives (18 cr.)
Complete six the following courses:
(M304 can be taken 4 times with different topics and M404 can be taken 3 times with different topics)

• SPH-C 329 Issues in Sport Communication (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 405 Introduction to Sport Psychology (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 304 Sport Industry Studies (3 cr.) (Repeatable for credit)
• SPH-M 328 Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 404 Sport Management Colloquium (3 cr.) (Repeatable for credit)

Communication (6 cr.)
Complete two of the following courses:

• ANTH-A 122 (Formerly: CMCL-C 122) Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• BUS-C 104 Business Presentations (3 cr.)
• BUS-C 204 Business Communications (3 cr.)
• COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 103 Introduction to Creative Writing (3 cr.) +(A&H)
• SPH-B 250 Public Health Communication (3 cr.)

Business Electives (12 cr.)
Complete four of the following courses:

• BUS-A 200 Foundations of Accounting (3 cr.)
• BUS-F 260 Personal Finance (3 cr.)
• BUS-F 300 Introduction to Financial Management (3 cr.)
• BUS-G 300 Introduction to Managerial Economics (3 cr.)
• BUS-K 201 The Computer in Business (3 cr.)
• BUS-L 201 Legal Environment of Business (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• BUS-M 300 Introduction to Marketing (3 cr.)
• BUS-P 300 Introduction to Operation Management (3 cr.)
• BUS-Z 302 Managing and Behavior in Organizations (3 cr.)
  or BUS-J 306 Strategic Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
• ECON-E 201 Introduction to Microeconomics (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• ECON-E 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• SPH-R 220 Foundations of Public, Nonprofit, and Community Recreation (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 221 Recreation Facility Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 230 Recreational Sports Programming
  or SPH-K 206 Recreational Sports Programming (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 321 Aquatic Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 410 Event Planning and Program Development (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 302 Management of Food and Beverage Operations (3 cr.)

+ Courses followed by a A&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education, arts and humanities requirement.

+ Courses followed by a S&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education, social and historical studies requirement.

Suggested Courses for the First-Year Sport Marketing and Management Student
Fall Semester (15 cr.)
ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition 1 (3 cr.)
MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
SPH-K 150 Introduction to Kinesiology and Public Health (3 cr.)
SPH-M 211 Introduction to Sport Management (3 cr.)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 cr.)

Spring Semester (15 cr.)
ECON-E 201 Introduction to Microeconomics (3 cr.)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 cr.)
Natural and Mathematical Sciences Course (3 cr.)
Communication Requirement Course (3 cr.)
Free Elective Course (3 cr.)

Special Opportunities

Majors are required to complete a practicum or internship experience and most often complete several varied experiences prior to graduation. There is also an sport marketing and management student-led organization – the Indiana University Sport Marketing Alliance – in which students can join and participate. The School of Public Health - Bloomington Career Services Office provides expert career advisement and services for students. Indiana provides many local opportunities for majors looking for internship study. In addition to the various sport entities in Bloomington and around the state, there are numerous opportunities in nearby Indianapolis, which is home to the Colts (NFL) in Lucas Oil Stadium, the Pacers (NBA) and Fever (WNBA) at Conseco Fieldhouse, motorsports at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, swimming and diving at the Natatorium, the Indianapolis Indians (MiLB) at Victory Field, the NCAA Headquarters, as well as several sport National Governing Bodies.

Careers

Employment opportunities are directed to the fields of professional sports, amateur sports, and intercollegiate sports, including facility operations, corporate sport marketing/public relations, media relations, and event marketing and management. In addition, students are prepared for careers in sports equipment sales and other positions that require good communication, marketing, and management skills. Following their undergraduate education, some students seek admission to graduate programs in such areas as law, sport management, and public health administration.